Sorting Element and VariableInstance objects
The Element, Elements, and VariableInstance objects have a hidden default property that returns the full name. This allows you to sort these objects alphabetically on their full name using the
SortAsc and
SortDesc functions.
mrScriptBasic example
This mrScriptBasic code sorts the elements in the plan_view variable in the Museum sample:
Dim MyDocument, MyElement
Set MyDocument = CreateObject("MDM.Document")
MyDocument.Open("C:\Program Files\IBM\SPSS\DataCollection\7\DDL\Data\Data Collection File\museum.mdd", , _
MDMLib.openConstants.oREAD)
Debug.Log("Elements in default order: ")
For Each myElement in MyDocument.Fields["plan_view"].Elements
Debug.Log(myElement)
Next
Debug.Log(mr.CrLf + "Elements in ascending order: ")
For Each myElement in SortAsc(MyDocument.Fields["plan_view"].Elements)
Debug.Log(myElement)
Next
Debug.Log(mr.CrLf + "Elements in descending order: ")
For Each myElement in SortDesc(MyDocument.Fields["plan_view"].Elements)
Debug.Log(myElement)
Next
Output
Elements in normal order:
Dinosaurs
Conservation
Fish_and_reptiles
Fossils
Birds
Insects
Whales
Mammals
Minerals
Ecology
Botany
Origin_of_species
Human_biology
Evolution
Wildlife_in_danger
Elements in ascending order:
Birds
Botany
Conservation
Dinosaurs
Ecology
Evolution
Fish_and_reptiles
Fossils
Human_biology
Insects
Mammals
Minerals
Origin_of_species
Whales
Wildlife_in_danger
Elements in descending order:
Wildlife_in_danger
Whales
Origin_of_species
Minerals
Mammals
Insects
Human_biology
Fossils
Fish_and_reptiles
Evolution
Ecology
Dinosaurs
Conservation
Botany
Birds
Next topic
See also